ViaSat-2, Eutelsat 172B - Ariane 5 ECA (VA237) - Куру ELA3 - 01.06.2017, 23:45 UTC

[tnt22]

Eutelsat‏ @Eutelsat_SA 7 мая

#LetsLaunch Proud to chalk up new firsts in space! #innovation @AirbusSpace @Arianespace #VA237

[tnt22]

ViaSat Inc.‏ @ViaSatInc 15 ч назад

Follow ViaSat-2's journey from LAX to French Guiana as it preps for the June 1 launch. http://bit.ly/2pod8jl  #ConnectUp #ViaSat2 #Launch

[tnt22]

https://www.viasat.com/news/viasat-2-getting-ready-launch

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Image: An AN-124 carrying the ViaSat-2 satellite from Los Angeles International Airport to French Guiana for the scheduled June 1 launch.

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ViaSat-2: Getting Ready for Launch

A question the ViaSat program team is often asked is: what happens leading up to a satellite launch? Let's take you through the ViaSat-2 journey – now that we've shipped the satellite from the Boeing Satellite Systems International factory in El Segundo, Calif., to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. As you'll learn, a lot happens in the weeks leading up to its ride into space.

Shipping

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As you can imagine, it's not easy to move a satellite that weighs over 9,000 pounds and is roughly the size of a school bus; especially when the launch base is in a rather remote location, such as French Guiana.

So, in order to transport such a large piece of equipment over such a great distance, you need a really big container and an even larger airplane. ViaSat-2 was so large that Boeing had to build a new container to accommodate the satellite.  The container is designed to physically protect the satellite from damage, but also to keep the environment clean and the temperature and humidity within specified ranges.  These are not just large crates, but very sophisticated environmental control chambers. For ViaSat-2, we chartered the largest available cargo plane in the world, the Ukrainian-built and Russian-operated Antonov AN-124.  The satellite containers are carefully designed to fit in the cargo bay of an AN-124.

One thing to note is when we ship a satellite to the launch facility, we don't just ship the satellite, we also ship test equipment, handling hardware, fueling gear, and office equipment, among other items. Loading the container on an AN-124 takes about 4-6 hours, as does unloading it. The trip from the satellite factory to a launch base is about a 2-3 day trip. For ViaSat-2, the AN-124 flew from Los Angeles (LAX) to Houston and then direct to Cayenne, French Guiana. ViaSat-2 departed LAX on March 16, 2017.

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Launch Campaign

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A typical launch campaign usually spans about 30 days from satellite arrival to launch. The ViaSat-2 launch campaign is scheduled for 39 days from satellite arrival to launch, as Arianespace has two other launches scheduled at the Guiana Space Center (known by its French acronym as CSG) between the time ViaSat-2 arrives and its official launch date.

The other major phases of a typical launch campaign are:
 

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• Unpack: This is unpacking the satellite, as well as the other test and fueling equipment we shipped.
• Test: Once the satellite is unpacked, we run the satellite through a series of tests to make sure there is no latent damage and that everything still works as intended. It's very important to verify that we have a healthy satellite prior to fueling it.  Once we fuel it, we cannot easily offload the fuel and decontaminate the satellite propulsion system.
  

Fuel: Once we've verified the satellite is completely healthy, we will load the chemical fuel onboard.  ViaSat-2 has a hybrid propulsion system, which means it is using traditional chemical propulsion as well as electric propulsion.  The electric propulsion burns xenon gas, which is an inert gas.  Because it's inert, the xenon is loaded at the factory before shipment to the launch site.  So, at the launch base, we have to load hydrazine fuel and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer. Both of these chemicals are highly toxic and hazardous, so on fueling days, the facility is cleared of all but essential personnel.

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Mate to Launch Vehicle

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Up to this point in the launch campaign, we've been working on our own, and apart from some blackout days due to other hazardous operations or other launches, we've been pretty much free to work on our own schedule.  That changes as soon as combined operations start.  Combined operations begin when we mate the satellite to the payload adapter (the payload adapter is the structure that holds the satellite to the rocket).  From this point on, the satellite team and the launch vehicle teams are integrated and all subject to a joint schedule.

For ViaSat-2, combined operations will start approximately six (6) days before launch when the satellite goes onto the payload adapter and will end upon conclusion of the launch.  From this point on, there will be a very carefully scripted sequence of events that will see the satellite joined to the adapter, then mated to the Sylda (the dual payload carrying structure), encapsulated within the payload fairing, mated to the rocket, roll-out to the launch pad, launch rehearsal and finally, launch.

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Launch

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Launch days are inevitably long days. The initial call to stations is usually 10-12 hours ahead of the scheduled liftoff time. During this time, we'll follow a very carefully developed script and sequence of events for both the rocket and the satellite. We'll power-up the satellite and perform some health checks to ensure the satellite is still healthy. The integrated countdown sequence will progress and we'll receive weather updates and finally, during the terminal count, we'll give a final go or no-go for launch. For ViaSat-2, the last point at which we can abort the launch is 7 seconds prior to ignition of the first stage core engine.

The ViaSat-2 mission will take less than 30 minutes from liftoff to separation. Once the satellite separates from the rocket, the next major event is acquisition, which is the point at which the satellite first communicates with, and accepts, commands from a ground station. At this point, we consider the mission to be successful.

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[tnt22]

DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace 15 мин. назад

Some #CSG updates: #VA237 planned for 01/06/2017 at 20:45 local #VA238 planned for 28/06/2017 at 18:20 local

[tnt22]

Arianespace‏ @Arianespace 40 мин. назад

Launch preparations with #Soyuz, #Ariane5 and #Vega keep @Arianespace on track for 12 missions in 2017: http://bit.ly/2rrSWiz

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http://www.arianespace.com/corporate-news/launch-preparations-spaceport/

Feature story | May 17, 2017

Launch preparations with Soyuz, Ariane 5 and Vega keep Arianespace on track for 12 missions in 2017

Arianespace's objective of performing 12 launches in 2017 is backed by a high level of activity at the Spaceport in French Guiana, where mission preparations, payload checkout and launch vehicle hardware are in process for upcoming flights with Soyuz, Ariane 5 and Vega.

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The basic three-stage Soyuz launcher for Flight VS17 is raised into position in the ELS launch zone, where it was fitted with the SES-15 payload and Fregat upper stage.
 
For the company's next liftoff, a medium-lift Soyuz is now in the Spaceport's ELS launch zone, fitted with its SES-15 telecommunications satellite payload. Undergoing the countdown for a morning departure on Thursday, May 18, this launch is designated Flight VS17 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system – signifying the 17th mission with the Russian-built workhorse vehicle since it entered service at the Spaceport in 2011.

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Flight VS17 will mark Arianespace's fifth mission so far in 2017, following two launches with the heavy-lift Ariane 5, and one each utilizing Soyuz and the light-lift Vega.

Preparing for the next two Ariane 5 flights

Elsewhere at the Spaceport, the next Ariane 5 has moved fr om the Launcher Integration Building to the Final Assembly Building, wh ere a dual payload of the Viasat-2 and Eutelsat E172B telecommunications satellites will be integrated. This mission is designated Flight VA237, denoting the 237th flight with an Ariane launcher since the family of European-built vehicles began Spaceport operations in 1979.

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Activity also has begun for the subsequent Ariane 5 launch, VA238, which will loft the Hellas-Sat 3/Inmarsat S relay satellite and the GSAT-17 telecommunications spacecraft for the Indian Space Research Organisation.

GSAT-17 arrived in French Guiana this week aboard a chartered cargo jetliner that landed at Cayenne's Félix Eboué Airport. Separately, elements for Flight VA238's Ariane 5 launch vehicle were delivered to Kourou's Pariacabo port by the MN Toucan roll-on/roll-off transport ship, completing a trans-Atlantic sea voyage that also carried launcher components for Arianespace's next Vega mission.
 

India's GSAT-17 satellite for Arianespace's Flight VA238 with Ariane 5 is unloaded from a chartered cargo jetliner at Cayenne's Félix Eboué Airport (at left), while the Ariane 5 for Flight VA237 is transferred to the Spaceport's Final Assembly Building (center). In the photo at right, the Zefiro 9 third stage for Arianespace's next Vega launcher is unloaded from the MN Toucan ship at Kourou's Pariacabo port.
 
Larger versions of the photos above are available to download in the Gallery.

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[tnt22]

ViaSat-2 travels to Launch!

(0:18 )

[tnt22]

ViaSat Inc.‏ @ViaSatInc 2 ч. назад

What's orbit-raising? It's how ViaSat-2 gets to its final geostationary orbit: http://bddy.me/2qIv5Ls  #ViaSatInc #VS2 #InternetfromSpace

https://www.viasat.com/news/what-happens-after-viasat-2-launches-step-1-orbit-raising

What Happens After ViaSat 2 Launches: Step 1. Orbit Raising

First, a bit about orbital mechanics....

A rocket launching a commercial geostationary satellite generally leaves the satellite in what is known as a transfer orbit. These orbits may have apogees (high points) at geosynchronous altitudes, known as a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), above geosynchronous altitudes, known as a Super-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (SSTO), or with altitudes below geosynchronous altitudes, known as a Sub-Synchronous Transfer Orbit. From whichever orbit the rocket leaves the satellite in, it is up to the satellite to move itself to its final geostationary orbit.

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Generally speaking, all transfer orbits have a number of elements in common:

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• They're elliptical – there is generally a significant difference between apogee and perigee.
• They're inclined – geostationary satellites, like ViaSat-2, operate over the equator at 0° inclination, relative to the equator.  Almost all transfer orbits are significantly inclined relative to the equator.
  

That being said, following launch, a satellite has to circularize its orbit and eliminate any remaining inclination prior to being able to provide service to customers. These maneuvers are accomplished through firing the satellite's onboard thrusters. In the case of ViaSat-2,  the satellite uses its chemical propulsion system to circularize its orbit and then uses its electric propulsion to remove inclination and perform all station-keeping.

The differences between chemical and electric propulsion are significant in a number of ways, including:

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• Mass of fuel – the fuel for chemical propulsion is much heavier and bulkier than electric propulsion for the equivalent work performed.
• Thrust – chemical propulsion provides much higher thrust than electric propulsion.
• Fuel efficiency – electric propulsion is much more efficient than chemical propulsion.
  

Within the last few years, fully electric  satellites have become a reality. This breakthrough technology allows a significant mass reduction in satellites without sacrificing payload capabilities. This is incredibly important because it allows the use of a smaller and more cost-effective rocket to launch a satellite just as capable as a heretofore large satellite.

With ViaSat-2, we are performing a large portion of the orbit raising electrically as we didn't look to reduce launch mass, but instead our goal was to increase the payload capability.  In other words, we increased capacity for the same launch mass. ViaSat-3 will utilize electric propulsion exclusively, thus allowing an even greater payload as a fraction of total launch mass.

One Critical Difference

One significant difference to electric propulsion is its extremely low thrust, which means it takes the satellite longer to reach its orbital slot. The difference is like comparing the acceleration capabilities of the most powerful Ferrari to that of a Prius. The Ferrari will out accelerate the Prius at the expense of fuel economy. The Prius will accelerate slowly, but more efficiently and will continue to build momentum over time. That's what electric propulsion is about – building momentum over time.

Instead of taking about two weeks to complete orbit-raising, which was the case with ViaSat-1, it will take several months for ViaSat-2 to reach its final orbital destination. The tradeoff is that we're going to have a satellite with over double the capacity of ViaSat-1 without having to resort to a much larger and more expensive rocket to launch it.

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[Salo]

http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/ariane-5-mission-preparations/

The Final Assembly Building currently is occupied by the Ariane 5 for Arianespace Flight VA237, which is set for a June 1 liftoff with the ViaSat-2 and Eutelsat E172B telecommunications satellites. This Ariane 5 is installed on the second mobile launch table used by Arianespace's heavy-lift vehicles, and awaits its dual-passenger payload integration.

[tnt22]

Нанесение логотипов на РН (по ссылкам - полноразмерные снимки)

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[tnt22]

Стикер миссии VA237
http://www.cnes-csg.fr/automne_modules_files/standard/public/p10805_8c5cd03f156c3826881b17eeb8f2a9d5Sticker_VA237.png

[mik73]

А объясните дилетанту:

Насколько я нарыл в Интернетах, отделяемая масса (или как это правильно назвать?, то, что отделяется от носителя на ГПО) у  ViaSat-2 - 6800 кг, Eutelsat 172B - 3500 кг. Вместе получается 10300 кг. 
А Ариан-5 в варианте ECA, как я опять же нарыл в Интернетах, выводит на ГПО 10500 единичной нагрузки или 10000 - если выводит два аппарата. Интересно, за счет чего получается 10300 в этот раз?

[tnt22]

Arianespace‏ @Arianespace 9 мин. назад

#Arianespace to serve global connectivity for @ViaSatInc and @Eutelsat_SA. Read the press release: http://bit.ly/2qgyujC

http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-to-serve-global-connectivity-for-viasat-inc-and-eutelsat/

Ariane 5 | May 24, 2017

Arianespace to serve global connectivity for ViaSat Inc. and Eutelsat



For its sixth launch of the year, and the third Ariane 5 mission in 2017 from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, Arianespace will orbit two satellites: ViaSat-2 for ViaSat Inc.; and EUTELSAT 172B for Eutelsat.

This mission – the 237th overall by an Ariane launcher – will mark a new all-time Arianespace record for a total payload weight orbited: 10,865 kg., including a net mass at liftoff of 9,969 kg. for the two satellites.

ViaSat-2 and EUTELSAT 172B are the 558th and 559th satellites to be launched by Arianespace.
With this 289th mission by the Arianespace family of launchers (Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega), Arianespace is serving global connectivity on Earth.

The launch will be from Ariane Launch Complex No. 3 (ELA 3) in Kourou, French Guiana.
The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 in Kourou, to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown.

ViaSat-2

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is the first ViaSat satellite to be launched by Arianespace.

ViaSat Inc., a new customer for Arianespace and its Ariane 5 launch vehicle, provides international communities with broadband internet connectivity, accessible on land, at sea and in the air, at competitive rates in relation to other satellite or terrestrial services.

The ViaSat-2 satellite system should bring considerable improvements in terms of speed, lower costs and extended broadband coverage within its footprint, as well as along the main aeronautical and maritime routes linking North America and Europe (Atlantic Ocean).

ViaSat-2 will also provide nearly twice the capacity offered by previous generations of ViaSat satellites, along with seven times as much coverage.

Positioned at 70° West, ViaSat-2 will provide throughput of approximately 300 Gbps in Ka-band over its coverage zone, which includes North and Central America, plus the Caribbean, northern South America, and aeronautical and maritime routes in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe.

ViaSat-2 was built by Boeing in El Segundo, California, using a 702HP platform.

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EUTELSAT 172B

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will be the 32nd satellite launched by Arianespace for Eutelsat. Both companies have worked side-by-side since 1983, when Arianespace launched the Eutelsat-1 F1 satellite. Including this upcoming launch, more than half of Eutelsat's satellites will have been orbited by Arianespace.

Eutelsat is one of the world's leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 39 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations; pay-TV operators; video, data and Internet service providers; enterprises and government agencies.

EUTELSAT 172B will deliver increased capacity for fast-growing applications that include in-flight and maritime connectivity, cellular backhaul, corporate networks, video distribution and government services. It will be located at 172° East, a key neighborhood providing exceptional Asia-Pacific reach over land and sea, from Alaska to Australia.

EUTELSAT 172B is the first all-electric telecommunications satellite built in Europe. This key enabling technology has been implemented by Airbus in Toulouse, using the new all-electric Eurostar E3000 EOR (Electric Orbit Raising) platform.

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For further information, download the Launch Kit by clicking here: http://www.arianespace.com/press-kits/

To watch a live, high-speed online transmission of the launch (including commentary from the launch site in French and Eng-lish), go to arianespace.com on June 1, 2017 starting 15 minutes before liftoff.

You also can follow the launch live on your iPhone or iPad (the Arianespace HD app is free).

About Arianespace

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To use space for a better life on earth, Arianespace guarantees access to space transportation services and solutions for any type of satellite, commercial as well as institutional, into any orbit.

Since 1980, Arianespace has performed missions placing more than 550 satellites into orbit with its three launchers: Ariane, Soyuz and Vega.

Arianespace is headquartered in Evry, France near Paris, and has a facility at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, plus local offices in Washington, D.C., Tokyo and Singapore.

Arianespace is a subsidiary of Airbus Safran Launchers, which holds 74% of its share capital; the balance is held by 17 other shareholders from the European launcher industry.

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[tnt22]

Arianespace выпустила пресс-кит

En - Launch-kit_VA237_2.pdf - 2967501 B, 11 стр

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[tnt22]

Arianespace опубликовала французскую версию:
 
Fr - Launch-kit_VA237_FR.pdf - 669516 B, 11 стр

[tnt22]

Arianespace открыл страницу миссии VA237 (на ней же будет трансляция пуска)

http://www.arianespace.com/mission/ariane-flight-va237/

[ZOOR]

mik73 пишет:
А объясните дилетанту:

Насколько я нарыл в Интернетах, отделяемая масса (или как это правильно назвать?, то, что отделяется от носителя на ГПО) уViaSat-2 - 6800 кг, Eutelsat 172B - 3500 кг. Вместе получается 10300 кг.
А Ариан-5 в варианте ECA, как я опять же нарыл в Интернетах, выводит на ГПО 10500 единичной нагрузки или 10000 - если выводит два аппарата. Интересно, за счет чего получается 10300 в этот раз?

tnt22 пишет:
This mission – the 237th overall by an Ariane launcher – will mark a new all-time Arianespace record for a total payload weight orbited: 10,865 kg., including a net mass at liftoff of 9,969 kg. for the two satellites.